LEICA SUMMILUX R 50mm(Type-II E60)

The final model of the spherical Summilux

A review and Photo example of the SUMMILUX R 50mm F1.4 Type-II E60.

Table of contents

Gallery

Review

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1.Overview

The Summilux-R 50mm 2-type E60 was redesigned to improve image quality by increasing the lens configuration to 8 elements in 7 groups, with a filter diameter of 60mm and a larger front lens to increase peripheral light.

It was released in 1998, towards the end of the Leica R series, and is a rare lens with approximately 2,700 units produced.

The only difference in design between the 1st type (later model) and 2nd type is the filter diameter and focus ring design, with no major changes. The 2nd type has a fatter appearance than the 1st type, as the lens barrel is thicker.

The Summilux-R 50mm 1-type E55 (later model) has 6 elements in 5 groups and a filter diameter of 55mm.

It should not use aspherical lenses, and I have only seen the R-CAM and the ROM connector version, and it is thought that 3CAM did not exist based on the manufacturing period.

This lens has a lens configuration of 6 elements in 5 groups with 2 lenses added to the rear group, and appears to be similar to the aspherical lens type of the Summilux M released in 2006. Since it was released after the last spherical Summilux M, this will be the last spherical Summilux 50mm.

2.Usage

As you can see in the lens comparison photo, this lens is the largest, and because it has more lens elements, it feels heavier and more solid than other 50mm lenses. The hood doesn’t extend much and looks like an added bonus, but the lens itself has good resistance to backlighting, so it’s hardly an issue.

The gallery shows the results of shooting with a DMR (LEICA R8 + Digital Module R). Due to the sensor size, the image is cropped to about 68mm, but I think you can feel the sharpness and softness of the lens.

When used with a LEICA R8 and negative film, it matches well with the coarse grain of the negative film.

It has not been used with monochrome film, but judging from the results with the negative, it seems that you can enjoy the unique softness and sharpness of the images even in monochrome.

3.Add Info.

Some R-mount lenses can cause lens errors on EOS cameras with 35mm full-frame sensors, but this lens could be used without any problems on the EOS-1 Ds MKIII.

It occasionally pops up on Yahoo! Auctions and eBay, and is priced quite aggressively. The lens I own is a 382xxxx, made in 1998, when this lens was most commonly made.

SUMMILUX R50-II / SUMMILUX R50-I / SUMMICRON R50-II

Specification

ItemsSUMMILUX R E55SUMMILUX R E60SUMMILUX M 3rd
focal length(mm)505050
Maximum aperture1.41.41.4
Minimum aperture161616
Aperture blade6812
Lens Construction7elements in 6groups8elements in 7groups7elements in 5groups
Min distance(m)0.50.50.7
Lens length(mm)50.65155
Lens Max diameter(mm)68.57050
Filter Size(mm)556046
Weight(g)395490380
Release date1989~1995(Model 1777)1997~20051992〜2005,2006
Production numbers4,149(Late)
35,322(Early+Late)
2,70018,132
(1992-2005)
*:Figures taken from LEICA WIKI


Reference links

Update history

  • 2024.12.16
  • 2024.02.20
  • 2022.04.14

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